Sunday, November 9, 2008

Ode to nighttime (typed in the hard light of day)

There is something
About the
Night
A magnetic tug
Or
Seductive allure
That inspires a resistance to
Sleep
And pushes me into
Labyrinthine tangles
Of activity
Mostly mental
Aerobics of the mind
While muscles are neglected
Physicality pushed aside
In favor of
Insight
Searching for that one elusive
Turn of phrase
Digesting sound
Writing it down
Rewinding
Lights out
Jimmy Stewart in a suit
Looking superb in San Francisco
Or
Reading aloud to
Nobody
Words hanging in the
Air
Then disintegrating
Disappearing
Silence defeating them.
Or the ticking of a clock
The movement of my
Watch
Steadily and
Quietly
Reminding that the
Night
Is nearly
Over.
The daytime is fine
Great for
Walks
And
Picnics
But if push
Came
(Comes)
To shove
Well you can have it.
The nighttime
(To use an archaic but worthwhile turn of phrase)
IS WHERE IT’S AT
Like a heavy oversized
Coat
Tried on while still a
Child
Wrapping around
Covering and enveloping
Silently enticing
The body
(The mind)
To grow into it
SayingYou’ll get there one day
And when you do
We’ll take out the hem
Or add some more material
(There’s always more material)And you can start
AllOver again.